SL Women name uncapped Meththananda in T20 squad

By Madushka Balasuriya

Sri Lanka have decided to stick with more or less the same squad that was whitewashed by England in the ODIs, making just a few tweaks as they prepare to face off in a three-match T20I series starting on Sunday. Hansima Karunaratne, Sugandika Kumari, and Inoshi Priyadharshani all retain their spots, having been brought in for the ODIs, while there is also room for uncapped 24 year-old Madushika Meththananda.

Making way are teenagers Tharika Sewwandi and Kaveesha Dilhari, and the veteran pair of Prasadani Weerakkody and Udeshika Prabodhani. Weerakody and Prabodhani have played 93 T20Is and 106 ODIs between them, but poor form saw both players kept out of the playing XI by the end of the ODI series.

Following a forgettable World T20 campaign in November, the Sri Lankan selectors had voiced their desire to give younger players a chance, which could bode well for Meththananda and the 17 year-old Umesha Thimashini. 

Thimashini had been left out of the ODI squad, but retains her place in the T20I setup, where her right-arm offspin may be of more use. Meanwhile, Meththananda, who bowls right-arm medium, has been included in several past squads but has yet to start a game. With Sri Lanka’s bowlers having thus far struggled to trouble England to any reasonable extent, and with the team playing just one seamer in the final ODI, she may find herself with some game time this time around. Sri Lanka’s recent record against England is not a promising one, having only won one of their limited overs encounter, while they are yet to do so in T20Is. All the three T20Is will be played at the P. Sara Oval, starting 24 March.

Full Squad: 

Chamari Atapattu (Captain), Umesha Thimashini, Anushka Sanjeewani, Hansima Karunaratne, Hasini Perera, Sugandika Kumari, Harshitha Samarawickrema, Sashikala Siriwardena, Nilakshi De Silva, Inoshi Priyadarshani, Imalka Mendis, Achini Kulasooriya, Madushika Meththananda, Inoka Ranaweera, Oshadi Ranasinghe

IN: Hansima Karunaratne, Sugandika Kumari, Inoshi Priyadharshani, Madushika Meththananda

OUT: Prasadani Weerakkody, Tharika Sewwandi, Kaveesha Dilhari, Udeshika Prabodhani